President Bush Presents National Medals of Science and Technology
East Room

President's Remarks

10:45 A.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: Thanks and welcome to the White House. It is an honor to
be in the company of so many bright and distinguished Americans. Each of
our honorees has been blessed with talent, and each has used their talent
to the fullest.

The work we honor today has improved the lives of people everywhere. It
has helped to move our economy forward and it's helped to make sure that
America is the leader of innovation in our world. The medals are our
nation's way of expressing gratitude to gifted and visionary citizens. I
also appreciate the family members and friends who are here, as well.

I want to thank members of my Cabinet who have joined us: Secretary
Gutierrez, Secretary Bodman. I want to thank Dr. Jack Marburger, who is
the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy. I thank David
Sampson, from Commerce, for joining us. I want to thank Dr. Arden Bement,
the Director of the National Science Foundation, who is with us. Dr.
Kathie Olsen, the Deputy Director of the National Science Foundation. I
want to thank the representative from the National Science Foundation and
members of the board of the National Science and Technology Medals
Foundation. Those were the folks who decided that you won. (Laughter.)

I thank Dr. Bill Jeffrey who is with us, Director of the National Institute
of Standards and Technology. I want to thank the previous recipients of
the National Medals of Science and Technology who've joined us. I thank my
friends, Congressman Sherry Boehlert, as well as Dave Reichert, of the
United States Congress, for being here. Thank you both for coming.

Most of all, thank you all for joining us.

The medals I'm about to present are the highest award a President can
bestow for astounding achievement in science and technology. They
recognize work that has helped expand the horizons of human knowledge. The
National Medal of Science honors those whose research has enhanced our
understanding of life and the world around us. And the National Medal of
Technology recognizes innovators whose work keeps America on the cutting
edge with discoveries that change the way we live.

The spirit of discovery is one of our national strengths. Our greatest
resource has always been the educated, hardworking, ambitious people who
call this country their home. From Thomas Edison's light bulb, to Robert
Ledley's CAT scan machine, most of America's revolutionary inventions began
with men and women with the vision to see beyond what is, and the desire to
pursue what might be.

Think back to how much this country has changed since the -- since we first
created the National Medal of Technology in 1980. Twenty-five years ago,
most Americans used typewriters instead of computers. Most of us used
payphones instead of cell phones. Most of us used carbon paper instead of
laser printers. Most of us had rolodexes -- you might remember those --
(laughter) -- and on the long family trip we'd play the license plate game
-- (laughter) -- and now we're watching DVDs.

Many technologies that are in our laboratories today will bring cures and
technologies that are beyond our imagination. And we will then wonder how
we ever lived without them. These kinds of changes are the result of years
of hard work by American innovators, like those we honor here today.

Over the years, National Science and Technology laureates have been
responsible for breakthroughs that revolutionized telecommunications,
discovered the structure of DNA, led to the invention of the microchip.
These laureates have done work that have revolutionized organ transplants
and led to development of global positioning systems and helped feed
millions around the world.

Our nation has a vital stake in the research and discovery that makes these
advances possible. And so in my State of the Union I encouraged our nation
to stay on the leading edge of technology and education. I've talked about
an American Competitiveness Initiative that will double over the next 10
years the federal commitment to the most critical, basic research programs
in the physical sciences. I think that's a good use of taxpayers' money.
(Applause.)

Six of today's eight science laureates have benefited from past investment
in this kind of research. If we want this country to be the most
competitive country in the world, we have got to spend money now to make
sure we stay on the leading edge of technological change. We've also got
to recognize it's in the private sector where most money is spent on
research and development, yet we unwisely have allowed the research and
development tax credit to expire. If the United States expects to remain
competitive in a global economy, we must encourage our private sector to
continue to invest in leading-edge technologies, and therefore, we ought to
make the research and development tax credit a permanent part of our tax
code. (Applause.)

We can't be the leading country in the world in science and technology
unless we educate scientists and young mathematicians. And so as part of
the Competitive Initiative I'm going to work with the Congress to make sure
we extend the same standards in the No Child Left Behind Act that we apply
to reading and math. The facts are that we're doing fine with 4th grade
kids in math and science. The facts also are these, that we're falling off
the face of the charts when it comes to 8th grade math. And we've got to
change that. And one of the sure ways to change that is to apply special
money for kids who need extra help in junior high for math and science.

We can't make sure our children have got math and science -- fine math and
science courses unless we've got teachers capable of teaching math and
science. And one way to do that is to expand education to high school
teachers in how to teach advanced placement. Advanced placement programs
work. They make a significant difference in the lives of our children.
And so by making sure more teachers can teach AP, this country will be
better off in making sure that we've got the future scientists and
mathematicians living right here in the United States of America.

Another part of the initiative is to encourage school districts to recruit
30,000 math and science professionals to teach in our nation's classrooms.
I mean, we want young kids to think math and science -- math and science
are cool subjects, that it's okay to be a mathematician, that it's exciting
to be a scientist. And there's no better way to make sure that young
students are encouraged to take math and science than to have successful
scientists explain to our students just the wonders of exploration.

You know, I was out in Albuquerque and had a good visit in Intel. They've
got an interesting program. They provide incentives for their employees to
go into the classrooms of local high schools and community colleges to say
to youngsters, join us in these exciting fields. And the exciting jobs of
the 21st century are going to be in math and science. And the American
people must understand that if we don't educate our kids in math and
science, the jobs are going to go elsewhere in the years to come. The
Competitive Initiative recognizes we're great when it comes to research and
development, and we intend to stay that way. But we've also got to be
great when it comes to making sure our students have got the skills
necessary to compete in the 21st century.

I appreciate the work that today's laureates are doing to inspire young
scientists. We've got some young scientists from Benjamin Banneker High
School with us. Thank you all for joining us. I appreciate you being
here. I hope that you are inspired by the examples of excellence and
success that you see right here in this ceremony today.

You know, it's interesting, people generally do not pursue a career in
science or technology with the goal of fame. I'm kind of trying to change
that today. (Laughter.) The work of discovery is quiet and often
solitary. Yet, all Americans benefit from your imagination and your talent
and your resolve. And so today we're here to say thanks for what you've
done; thanks for helping improve the quality of life in this country;
thanks for inspiring others. Congratulations on your medals, and now the
military aide will read the citations. (Applause.)

(The medals are presented.)

THE PRESIDENT: Again, thank you for coming. Got a little reception back
here for the honorees and their families. I'm proud to have you here in
the White House. May God continue to bless our great nation. Thank you.
(Applause.)